The Department of Innovation, Universities and Business is contributing 80,000 euros and technical support to the "Oberts al català" ("Open for Catalan") campaign, aimed at the hotel and catering sector in Catalonia and intended to encourage the use of Catalan. The campaign, under the slogan "El català et farà un gran servei" ("Catalan at your service"), is being run by the Retail Confederation of Catalonia.
The campaign will provide commercial and linguistic advice to establishments managed by immigrants, training for workers in the sector, and will distribute informative material. The aim is to offer an improved standard of service, which will benefit Catalan consumers, who will be served in their own language, and tourists, who will become more aware of the country's identity. Finally, it will help immigrant workers to integrate.
The Welsh Government has a similar scheme.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO WORK with the Welsh language, both spoken and written. Welsh is the natural formof communication for many people in Wales. Its use can enhance the appeal of your business. It’s a good selling point – it adds an interesting new dimension to what visitors can discover and appreciate, and also demonstrates that you’re proud to be in business here and that you respect the country’s culture. And it’s fun!
How is it then that so few people (potential tourists) in the world know about Wales and our languages - enabling them to become more aware of Wales our country? Well it is because the British are still taking the right to market Wales. There seems to be a massive conflict of interest as the British are marketing England by itself as well (one of Wales's competitors). The Welsh Government must take the right to market Wales away from the British and take responsibility for marketing it worldwide for themselves. Just as every other country does.
VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, promotes Britain internationally in 36 markets and England in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland. Our mission is to build the value of tourism to Britain and in England, generating wealth and jobs across Britain. Our unique network allows us to provide unrivalled insights, intelligence and business advice to any organisation with a stake in British and English tourism.
Alan Jones wrote...
"Britishness...is a political synonym for Englishness which extends English culture over the Scots, the said...Welsh, and the Irish" - Gwynfor Evans
We need to celebrate Glyndwr Day and give it prominence. I will do this on my blog and suggest others do the same, in a concerted effort.
Posted by: Alan Jones | August 20, 2007 7:18 AM